"It takes at least six years to train a doctor. In the interim it makes sense to see if we can attract senior doctors from outside the UK, whilst making sure this is not to the detriment of their home healthcare systems."

Many hospitals have already been boosted through recruitment of health staff under the Government's Anglo-Spanish programme.

Last year, one of the first overseas doctors recruited through the scheme started work at the University Hospital of Hartlepool.

But teams from the trusts hope the introduction of German specialists will add to the NHS workforce and reduce waiting times.

The German doctors must prove to Department of Health officials that they can speak good English and are competent in their work.

Arrangements for the trip will be finalised at a meeting next week.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "The biggest constraint the NHS faces today is no longer a shortage of financial resources, it is a shortage of human resources.

"This is a short term measure. What is needed for the long term is investment in training budgets and that is exactly what we have done."